Champions League - Celtic bumped out of Europe

Eurosport - Wed, 26 Nov 07:59:00 2008

Celtic crashed out of Europe after a heartbreaking late 2-1 defeat to AaB Aalborg at the Energi Nord Arena in Group E of the Champions League.

FOOTBALL Stephen McManus upset Celtic v Aalborg Champions League 2008 - 0

Gordon Strachan's side took a thoroughly deserved second half lead through Barry Robson, before a cruelly deflected Lucas Caca shot beat Artur Boruc and Gary Caldwell netted an own-goal to send the Scottish side out of the competition in the dying moments.

Celtic dominated a first half which should have yielded a healthy lead, with Georgios Samaras missing two glorious opportunities to reflect his side's possession in the scoreline.

The first period was otherwise distinctly devoid of quality, with Shunsuke Nakamura's wing play providing the only source of creativity or guile. Samaras failed to convert two Nakamura crosses from inside the Aalborg area, failing to make meaningful contact with either.

Indeed, the Greek striker looked laboured throughout and was sluggish in his all-round play leaving Strachan no choice but to replace him after the hour mark.

But it was the Japanese midfielder himself who squandered the best chance in the ninth minute, ballooning his shot over the bar when through on goal with just Karim Zaza to beat.

Robson demonstrated the conviction needed to score the opener in the 53rd minute with a header guided with such precision from the edge of the box, that Zaza was left rooted to the spot.

To their cost, Celtic sat back on their lead and Aalborg, whose only dangerous outlet was Caca, equalised in the 73rd minute when the midfielder was allowed to advance and unleash a shot which took a wicked deflection off Stephen McManus.

And the Bhoys experienced even worse luck in the 87th minute with the ball rebounding off Caldwell's thigh after Boruc had parried Andreas Johansson's speculative cross.

The Scottish side's European dream ended in disappointment once again with Strachan unable to believe his luck; the post-match inquest, however, will have to be focused on the numerous first-half chances which went awry.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport

Comment 187 - 206 of 206

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  1. Norman (198) - never thought I'd say it, but having read 117's comment I tend to agree with you! It's also funny how our league is so bad, the English clubs turn to north of the border for some of their best players! To be honest, I'm not 100% sure of a lot of Rangers players (except Hutton to Spurs), but they've taken the likes of Hansen, Dalglish, McClair, Law, Bremner, etc form Scottish shores! Both Celtic AND Rangers would not only do well in the EPL, we'd finish TOP 6! Once both teams got same share of tv revenue as English clubs, we'd wipe the floor with them simply because Scottish teams have had to go "gold-prospecting".

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Fri 28 Nov 1:15PM

  2. and 201 - I think you DRINK it!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Fri 28 Nov 1:02PM

  3. 201 - Norman, I think you're confusing yourself with The Everley Brothers!!.. (All I Have To Do Is Dream)!! GIRFUY!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Fri 28 Nov 1:01PM

  4. 199 - many have tried.. Many have failed! 82 (South Georgia), 91 (Iraq/Kuwait), 2002 (massive pile-up). I am indestructible, my good man!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Fri 28 Nov 12:59PM

  5. 197 - Norman, you couldnae fight sleep!! And what are you talking about Carlsberg? I think you'll find that the UEFA CL is sponsored by HEINEKEN!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Fri 28 Nov 12:57PM

  6. TO ALL U MICKS GO AND SHOOT UP DO WOT U DO BEST. NITE BLUENOSES EVERYWHERE AROUND THE WORLD WE TRULY ARE THE PEOPLE AND GOD SAVE THE QUEEN LONG MAY SHE REIGN AND TIMMY @#$% YOUR UNITED IRELAND COS IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN

    From norman.haig, on Thu 27 Nov 10:44PM

  7. STEVIE B I WILL ALWAYS BEAT U IN AN ARGUEMENT COS U TALK PISH AND I TALK FACTS

    From norman.haig, on Thu 27 Nov 10:37PM

  8. YOUR CHAMPIONS LEAGUE DREAM IS OVER Y DONT U GO HOME. BACK TO WHEREVER U COME FROM YA SHOWER A MUCK

    From norman.haig, on Thu 27 Nov 10:34PM

  9. ALL GONE QUIET STEVE EH FUNNY THAT FACTS HURT AND U KNOW ITS TRUE AND ALL U CAN SAY IS GO AND DIE NO U GO AND DIE GO AND DROWN IN SOME HOLY WATER OR GET PUMPED BY A AIDS RIDDWN PRIEST YA FENIAN @#$%

    From norman.haig, on Thu 27 Nov 10:32PM

  10. POINT 117 THATS Y RANGERS BEAT THE ENGLISH CHAMPS IN 92 LEEDS AND CELTIC BEAT LIVERPOOL AND BLACKBURN IN 03 AND BOTH HAVE RACHED THE UEFA CUP FINAL THE LAST 5 YRS SO U ARE TALKING MUCK PAL AND U KNOW IT YA DELUDED IDIOT

    From norman.haig, on Thu 27 Nov 9:44PM

  11. FACTS PAL U LOT DONT LIKE IT YA MICK I WILL DO U IN YA REPTILE. CARLSBERG DONT DO CHAMPS LEAGUE EXITS BUT IF THEY DID THEY WOULD BE THE BEST CHAMPIONS LEAGUE EXIT IN THE WORLD BROTHER WALFRED ONLY FOUNDED CELTIC IN THE EAST END OF GLASGOW TO STOP THE CATHOLICS GOING TO THE PRODDIE SOUP KITCHENS SO THAT IS A FACT AS IS TORBETT AND CELTIC BOYS CLUB READ ALAN BRAZILS BOOK COS HE WAS ONE OF THE ABUSED. GET IT RIGHT UP YOU AND THEY ARE FACTS

    From norman.haig, on Thu 27 Nov 9:27PM

  12. Norman - is that REALLY the best you can comer up with?? Do yourself a favour and kill yourself!! GIRFUY!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Thu 27 Nov 8:47PM

  13. pt 180 he stevie b ya clown trouble is one minute u are scottish cos of all your home grown players who won the european cup next u are british when it comes to being the first team to win it but most of all your irish roots cos of bandit walfred pls make up your mind wot u are ya deluded shower a @#$%. roll on dec 27th cos u lot are gonna get buried WE ARE THE PEOPLE WE TRULY ARE THE PEOPLE AND U LOT HATE THAT U CANT WIN WITH CLASS CANT LOSE WITH CLASS ALWAYS ATTACKING REFS OR SCRATCHING CARS YA BUNCH A LOW LIFE 2ND CLASS CITIZENS. 4 IN A ROW DREAM ON YA DELUDED MICKS 20 AWAY GAMES IN THE CHAMPS LEAGUE NO WINS ONLY OLYMPIACOS WORSE AWAY RECORD AND COME OUT WITH ALL THE DRIVEL GOING. BUT FACTS U ARE MUCK AWAY YA REPTILES

    From norman.haig, on Thu 27 Nov 8:35PM

  14. BRI - you need (a) a new keyboard; and (b) a new script-witer, because you keep spouting the same old pish! Stick to "Polly wants a cracker!.." my man!! LOL!! GIRFUY!!

    From Singin' Ginger!!, on Wed 26 Nov 9:29PM

  15. thick mick tattie picking labourers, famine is over now @#$% off back with ur tricolour,

    From bri.10000, on Wed 26 Nov 8:48PM

  16. thick mick tattie picking labourers, famine is over now @#$% off back with ur tricolour,

    From bri.10000, on Wed 26 Nov 8:46PM

  17. thick mick tattie picking labourers, famine is over now @#$% off back with ur tricolour,

    From bri.10000, on Wed 26 Nov 8:45PM

  18. I would like to change the fact.

    Talking about our squad...

    We need a new Man..George Burley's era's over.

    Who can put the Scottish squad in the right track?

    Dalglish? - Souness?- wee Strachan?

    ??????

    From willflet, on Wed 26 Nov 8:17PM

  19. All you need is love Gers...
    And show some sense of humour from time to time.

    I could not imagine how does it feel living a bitter life/style plus without love and humour.

    I don't want to be in your place Gers. (I don't mean the table).

    Get better soon.

    Celtic Football Club . Est. 1888

    From willflet, on Wed 26 Nov 7:35PM

  20. All from you is in cap letters HGFDJHF

    All from you is !!!!!!!!!!!!! ARRRGH!!!!

    All from you is poison..

    All from you make no sense.

    All from you is hate.

    All from you is typical Gers ers.

    Cool down ppl...

    Feel free to post anything.. but show some class.

    You... nothing.. forget it.

    Celtic Football Club - Est. 1888

    From willflet, on Wed 26 Nov 7:24PM
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